Portable accessory case



p 1952 B. A. MLAUGHLIN PORTABLE ACCESSORY CASE Filed April 18, 1950 INVEN TOR.

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ERNARD A. MCLAUGH ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,609,073 menses ACCESSORY oAsri sears A.McLa1ighlin, sariFraiiei'ct; caiii'. Application April 18, 1950, Sal-aim 1515;655-

This invention relates to a man'ually portable accessory case andmoreparticularly to such a as or kit which provides an ext dable pl formtherein, and compartments for accessories.

The general utility of such-.a'caseor kit resides in its use for someparticular purpose. Whil e the invention is not limited to a particularuse, it is herein illustrated anddescribedwith I813: tion to a manuallyportable case providing a platform for supporting an infant whileperforming the usual attentions which are required, and providingreceptacles and compartmentsto receive the required accessories.-Everyone who has had the responsibility of carin for an. .11 fant whiletemporarily away from the usual conveniences at home realizes theadvantages of having available a convenient platform on which the infantmaybe placed for necessary attentions, I and having h equally convenientthe necessary accessories forsuch a purpose, If the case is employed forattending the needs of an infant, manifestly the accessories in the;cornpartments would beselected for that particular purpose,thoughmanifestly if the casewere to lg s d fieren pu o e. he. ac ssoriesin the compartments may be appropriately varied- Broadly theinventioncomprises a rnanually portable case substantially of the handluggage type, having a platform and a plurality of un derlyingcompartments arranged to support the overlying platform, and atelescoping enclosing cover member hinged in the plane of the platformwhereby the cover member may be swung on the hinge so that its planartop is coplanar with the platform and provides an extension thereof, thecase having'means to support the cover in such coplanar position.Ancillary to such platform and cover, certain of the compartments mayhave therein trays hingedly mounted at one end to swing from theirnormal position underlying the platform to a position underlying theopened cover, and to serve as the support means for the cover when thecover is swung back coplanar with the platform.

The objects of the invention are to provide an interfolding accessorycase convenient for manual transport and having a platform thereinenlargeable upon opening a coverforthe case. 7 H I A further object istoprovide in manually portable inter-folding case having a platformtherein, hingedly mountedtray compartments to receive accessories, andadapted for swinging to a supporting position for -a..ooplanar'extension-of the platform. 7 g a sci-ear. (01. 190-11)Another. object is Q- rov e a: manu l n w able accessory, case having aplatform therein and a, p ur i of. o se l. m artm t 1 es n thereunder,and a cover member I having its planar top. i d t em ti o v t e ,patiqrm and havi s e p nel o tele o i ly @910 m t c m a t en a resti grays therein nt over selosed. ov t e platfermg Q e o m'n wh h he nventim y e g -1 bo ed sdescr ed. h r a i u ted. i m anyin drawi s ihbfii' gunde t var ation of d a ls-m yb r so t o W u departing from theinvention which is defined in the appended claims.

lnt dr wm a i Y Big lis a perspectiveview or the case in" closed s ti -ca 1 a, 215 a r rect ve ew. l t a e i a open position, and tray membersat a swun ck:P s t o PP9 net i.Q r-..

Fig. :3 isa perspective view of the case in an open position, with traysnested vvithin the case.

p ig a is a fragmentary perspective view of the ar-wall p i l fa, -.I.1-

.ise e redia c e 'iti gl n fi i of F -lei a ra men a ,en a s i lan i ofthe rear end of one tray and shows its hinge connection to t he rearwallof thecase, an overv r nl fQrmm mw be em ved Il a 1 a er pa s t on-9 earea Referring to the drawing in which like reference charactersindicate corresponding parts'iir the several views, the manuallyportable case of the invention generallyiindicatedl 9 is provided with abottom ecti generally indicated 1'0 in which I] ista planar v-bottoinwall extendingsubstahtially th length and width of the ottom section. Aplatform t2 overlies the bottom in spaced parallel relation and issubstantially of similar shape and area as the'bottom. The platfoim'is'supported insu'chspaced relation by suit,- able perpendicular Supprtin walls which provide storagespace between the bottom wall and e PlaormjvP r weete e s cev i divided into several compartments in whichevent tl e platform may be supportedby aL pa-ir of relatively .spacedlongitudinal central walls [3 eachof'which is 'spacedinwardly from aside edge of the bottom wall. Further support for theplats rm, s re i'et t a y t an v e wall I4, andrat the frontby vertical front wallportions !5, the latter extending from therelar tively spacedlongitudinal walls 1 31 to the adjacent idee se the perimete -of bottomH a im tform [2. Thusy'there are provided between the bottom wall andthe platform three compartments of the longitudinal depth of the bottomsection I9. These compartments are designated a central compartment I6open at the front wall and closed at its sides and rear by therespective longitudinal walls I3 and rear wall I4, and an elongated sidecompartment at each side of the central compartment, designatedrespectively, I! and I8.. The side compartments I1, I8 are each closedat front by front walls I5, at rear by rear wall I4 and along the innerelongated side by one of the longitudinal central walls I3, the sidecompartments each being open at their outer longi-' tudinal sideopposite the central wall I3. At the open side of one or more of thecompartments, there may be provided a conventional edge retaining stripIlia to prevent articles from falling from the compartments.

However, as an additional advantageous feature in the present invention,it is preferred to provide in the side compartments II, I8, traysgenerally indicated I9 and 20, which are hinged for-"swinging intoandout of the side compartments. These trays are of a size to fit snuglyslidable intothe side compartments II, I8 of the bottom section. Thetrays I9, are provided with'a bottom wall 2I, end walls 22, 23, one sidewall 24, and an edge retaining strip at the opposite side, the end wallsand the one side wall 24 preferably being substantially the height ofthecompartment, slidable clearance being allowed, and the edge stripbeing of lesser height. The trays are therefore open at the top, andalso at one side above the retaining strip 25 whereby easy access may behad to the trays. When the trays are nested within the side compartmentsI7, I8, the side wall 24 provides a closure wall for each of the sidecompartments II, I8 flush with the corresponding side edge of the bottomwall and platform. The partially 'open side of each tray confronts oneof the central compartment walls. Y

In this connection it is to be noted that if the trays are employed, itis preferred that'the rear wall I4 of thebottom section shall be oflesser length than the entire width of the bottom section, andtherebyhave its opposite ends terminating short of the side edges, as at26, 21, to the extent of the width of one leaf of each of the butthinges 28, 29-which are mounted at said opposite ends of the "rear Wall,One leaf of each hinge is secured to the respective opposite ends of therear wall and the other leaf is secured to the end Wall 22 of one of thetrays I9, 20. The pintles of the hinges are thus inset by the leavesfrom the higher elongated side wall of the tray,-'and are similarlyinset from the corresponding side of the bottom section. In order thatthe end wall 22 of the tray may snugly conform to the plane of thecorresponding confronting end portion of the rear wall, the end wall ofthe tray may be deformed by a planar ofiset 22a, or, if desired, the endwall 22 may be in a right plane and a furring strip may be insertedbetween the hinge leaf and the tray end wall.

A hinged cover member generally indicated 30 is provided fortelescopically enclosing the platform and the sides and front of thebottom section when the case is closed. The cover member has the usualplanar top 3| of suflicient size and appropriate'shape to cover theplatform I 2, as Well as having side strips 32, and front strip 33, ofslightly greater height than the height of the bottom section, the rearside of the cover member being open to provide a rear edge of the covertop which is hingedly mounted at the rear edge of the platform, as byhinge 34, the hinge axis of which substantially coincides with the rearedge of both cover and. platform and with the upper edge of the rearwall of the bottom section. One leaf of hinge 34 may therefore beconnected to either the rear edge of the platform or to said upper edgeof the rear wall, the latter being preferred, and mayextendsubstantially the entire length of said rear edge betweenthe tray hinges28 and 29, and is thus substantially in the plane of the platform I2, sothat when the cover is swung back degrees from its closed position, theinner face of the planar top is an extension of, and coplanar with theplatform I2.

While the cover hinge 34 as Well as tray hinges 28, 29 are hereinillustrated and described as having leaves, it is contemplated that suchleaves may be an integral part of the member to which they are shown tobe attached, such constructionbeing well known in the sheet metal art bytubularly forming spaced-ear portions at the edge of one sheet andsimilar ears spaced alternately at the confronting-'edg'e'o'f anotherpart, the tubular ears, when interengag'ed, providing a tube for apintle. 3

Means are provided for supporting the cover member at such coplanarswung-back position. As hereinafter described, the trays may be employedto provide such support. However, in cases where the hingedt'r'ays arenot employed in the device, or in the event that access is not desiredto the trays, such support for the cover at its coplanar positionmaycomprise a bracket 35-extending' along the outer face'of the'frontstrip 33 of the cover and having arms 36 extending along the side-strips32 and pivotally connected thereto, the lengthof the arms 36 beingsubstantially similar to the height of the bottom section,whereby,"whenthe cover is hinged back to a co-planar position 'andthe bracket 35 isswung perpendicular thereto, theplanar top of the cover is supported atthe same level as the platform I2. Any suitable stop member. 31,preferably a spring latch type, may limit movement of the bracket beyondthe center of its arcuate swing, and thus insure against its collapse atitssupportin Position. i f

However, in those devices in which the hingedly mounted trays areemployed and it is desired to have access 'to the trays, the trays maybe swung rearwardly on the tray hinges 28, 29 so that the side closurewall 24 underlies the swungback cover, in which case the inset of thepintle of the tray hinge Permits the side wall 24 of the tray to swinginwardly under the plane of the cover to the extent of the previouslydescribed inset of the hinge pintles. In any normal size of manuallyportable case an inset of approximately one inch is a sufl'icientinsetfor the hinge pintles. Manifestly, if the open opposite side wall 25 ofthe tray which confronts a central wall I3 when in a compartment IT orI8, is swung around to an opposite position, such open side and top ofthe tray are exposed outwardly when the tray is in such swung-backsupporting position. The contents of the tray are therefore accessible.In order thatthere may be no slippage of the tray from its supportingposition under the swungback cover, a lug, pin or other upraised member38 may be provided adjacent the edge of the cover to engage the sidewall of the tray upon which the cover rests. 4

A conventional suitable handgrip strap 39 is provided on the front stripof the cover, and a locking strap may be extended from the bot tomsection to engage the closed cover. a

While the case may be employed for numerous purposes where both aplatform and storage space are desirable, when employed for attention toinfants, it is desirable to provide means on the platform and the coverextension thereof for holding a blanket, or a pad thereon. Such meansmay comprise triangular anchor plates 4| at opposite corners of theplatform and underface of the cover top, one edge of the anchor beingsecured to the respective plates, and the opposite angle portion beingfrege'of and slightly spaced from the inner face of the cover top,whereby a tape on the pad or blanket may be slipped thereover. If thesecuring means of the anchors in the cover comprises rivets, th head ofthe rivets may protrude from the opposite face of the planar top andprovide the lug 38 for stabilizing the positioning of the trays assupports for the swungback cover. Due to the anchors coming in contactwhen the case is closed and the carrying of a folded blanket on theanchors, the cover member is of slightly greater height than the bottomsection as previously stated.

When the cover top is swung back coplanar with the platform, the infantmay be placed on the extended platform to change diapers, bathe, feed orclothe the infant, or for a temporary crib, the side and end strips ofthe cover providing walls around the planar cover portion of theextended platform to provide an effective guard rail for safety, whilethe platform portion [2 is free of such walls and permits operation freeof interference in handling the infant.

In use, any desired accessory materials may be placed in thecompartments, such as diapers or blankets in compartment 16, and nursingbottle, powder and oil, toys, etc. in the side compartments Or in thetrays. Or, if employed for an automobile traveling case, a thermallyinsulated bottle may be carried in each of the side compartments, or inthe trays and food may be packed in the compartment [6; and when thecase is open, the platform [2 may be employed for a table while food maybe placed in the swungback coplanar cover portion and shielded againstdisplacement by the side and front strips of the cover, which thus serveas guard rails.

It is believed obvious that when the case is assembled for portabilitythe cover member would be at a closed position. At such closed positionthe cover top overlies the platform l2, the side strips close the sidecompartments ll, l8, and hold trays therein if the latter are employed,and the front strip of the cover closes the open front end of thecentral compartment It, thus providing a closed case of the hand luggagetype readily portable by the handgrip 39.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and patentableis:

1. A manually portable accessory case including a bottom compartmentsectionhaving a compartment provided with an access opening in thevertical height dimension of said bottom section, a platform overlyingthe plane of said bottom section and providing a fixed top wall for saidcompartment, a cover member having a planar top mounted hingedly at itsrear edge to the bottom section substantially in the plane of theplatform and selectively swingable on the hinge connection from aposition overlying the platform to a swung-back position coplanar withthe platform, said cover having side strips and a front stripperpendicular to the planar top, said strips closing-:theopening of saidcompartment of the bottom section when the cover is at a closedposition.

2. Anaccessory case of the class described, having'the elements of claim1, and inwhich the bottomsection has a plurality of compartments each ofwhich has an access opening in the vertical height dimension of theperimeter of said bottom section, and in which the side strips and frontstrips of the cover close the openings of the compartments when-thecover is at a closed position;

"3. An accessory case of the class described, having the" elements ofclaim 1, and in which there is provided a support means havingsubstantially'the height of the bottom section and adapted forsupporting the cover member at such swung-back coplanar position.

4. A manually portable accessory case includ ing a bottom section havinga side compartment at each of its opposite sides and a centralcompartment therebetween, said compartments each having an accessopening in the vertical height dimension at the perimeter of said bottomsection, a platform overlying the plane of said bottom section andproviding a fixed top wall for the compartments therein, a cover memberhaving a planar top mounted hingedly at its rear edge to the bottomsection substantially in the plane of the platform and selectivelyswingable on the hinge connection from a position overlying the platformto a swung-back position coplanar with the platform, said cover havingside strips and a front strip adapted for closing the openings of thecompartments of the bottom section when the cover is at a closedposition, and a support means having substantially the height of thebottom section adapted for supporting the cover member at suchswung-back coplanar position.

5. A device of the character described and having the elements of claim4, and in which the side compartments are open at the opposite sides ofthe bottom section and the central compart ment is open at the frontthereof.

6. A manually portable accessory case comprising a bottom section havinga side compartment at each of its opposite sides and a centralcompartment therebetween, said compartments being open at the verticalheight dimension of the perimeter of the bottom section, a platformoverlying the plane of the bottom section and providing a fixed top wallfor the compartments therein, a cover member having a top mountedhingedly at its rear edge to the bottom section substantially in theplane of the platform and selectively swingable on the hinge connectionfrom a position overlying the platform to a swung-back position coplanarwith the platform, said cover having side strips and a front stripperpendicular to the planar top adapted for closing the compartmentopenings of the bottom section when the cover is at Closed position, andtray members hingedly mounted to the rear wail of the bottom section andadapted for nesting in the said side compartments of the bottom sectionand swinging on said hinges to a supporting position underlying theswung-back cover.

7. An accessory case of the class described having the elements of claim6, and in which the pintles of the tray hinges are inset from theopposite ends of the rear wall, whereby the trays may be swung from saidside compartments to a supporting position underlying the swung-backcover.

8. A device of the character described having the elements of claim 6,and in which the tray members are open at the top and at one side andare closed at other walls, and in which the trays are hingedly mountedwhereby when the tray is within a side compartment the open side of eachtray faces inwardly, and when swung to support the open cover, the openside wall faces outwardly.

9. A device of the character described having the elements of claim 6,and in which the pintles of the tray hinges are inset from the oppositeends of the rear wall whereby the trays may be swung from said sidecompartments to a supporting position underlying the swung-back cover,and the tray members are open at the top and at one side, whereby whenthe tray is within a side compartment the open side of the tray facesin- The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 509,197 Clark Nov. 21, 1893823,778 Herbeck June 19, 1906 FOREIGN PATENTS 15 Number Country Date21,031 Great Britain Sept. 27, 1902

